We help make accessibility part of the plan from the beginning.

Our Story

It Started with One Simple Question

What if everyone truly belonged?

Not because they were invited. Not because they were accommodated. But because they were intentionally included from the very beginning. That question became the foundation of Unspoken Events Co., LLC.

For most people, attending an event is simple. You arrive, listen, laugh, learn, connect, and leave with memories. For many Deaf individuals, the experience is often very different.

I’m Deaf. My teammate, Pam, is Deaf. We both married hearing husbands who love us deeply. They support us, encourage us, and stand beside us every day. Yet despite that love, we still experience communication barriers most people never see — at family gatherings, community events, business meetings, restaurants, doctor’s appointments, even a simple night out.

Sometimes we’re smiling on the outside while working twice as hard just to keep up with the conversation. That isn’t anyone’s fault. It’s simply the reality of living in a world where communication is often designed for hearing people.

One evening, Pam and I attended a local Paint & Sip event. We laughed. We painted. We genuinely enjoyed ourselves. But something was missing. The instructor spoke throughout the evening, giving directions, sharing stories, and interacting with the group. There were no captions. No visual communication. No way for us to fully experience everything everyone else was enjoying.

Afterward, I asked one of the employees a simple question: “Have you ever had any Deaf customers attend one of your events?” The answer came quickly: “No.” I smiled. Then another thought crossed my mind. Or have you… and they simply never came back?

That wasn’t a moment of frustration. It was a moment of possibility.

What if accessibility had been part of the planning? What if someone had simply asked, “How can we make everyone feel included?” Accessibility isn’t about doing something special for a few people. It’s about creating experiences that allow everyone to participate.

Don’t we all laugh? Don’t we all cry? Don’t we all celebrate? Don’t we all want to feel like we belong?

Some people wear glasses because their eyes need a little help seeing. In my case, my ears simply don’t work. That doesn’t make me less capable. It doesn’t make Pam less capable. It simply means we experience the world differently — and that’s okay. Diversity isn’t something to overcome. It’s something to embrace.

That belief became the heart of Unspoken Events Co. We don’t simply plan events. We help organizations create spaces where communication happens, barriers are reduced, and everyone belongs. Sometimes it begins with asking one question:

“Who might we be unintentionally leaving out?”

Because we believe every person deserves more than an invitation. They deserve the opportunity to fully experience the moment.

— Heidi DeGrace, Founder